Formula one motor racing boss Max Mosley has begun a libel claim in France over the claim in a Sunday newspaper in Britain that he took part in a Nazi-themed orgy.

The News of the World alleged Mosley joined five prostitutes in a five-hour sex party, and published a video of the alleged encounter in a basement flat in Chelsea.

Mosley is already suing the News of the World in the UK for breach of confidence, unlawful invasion of his privacy, and misuse of private information, with a trial expected in July. The new case claims defamation and invasion of privacy against the paper and members of its staff including its editor in chief, Mosley's lawyer Philippe Ouakrat said last night.

A spokesman for the newspaper, owned by News Group in Britain, said it had no comment on the action. It had previously said it would vigorously defend the action in British courts, and successfully blocked a court attempt by Mosley to prevent publication of the video.

Mosley, 67, son of the former British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, has accepted he visited the prostitutes, but denies there were Nazi overtones to what happened.

As president of FIA, formula one's governing body, he has apologised to it for any embarrassment, but has faced calls for his resignation. His future is to be put to a confidence vote in Paris next week. Formula one teams Toyota, Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz last month called his position into question, using words such as "disgraceful" and "disappointed".